As experienced Houston forklift accident lawyers, the team at Grimes & Fertitta knows all too well how dangerous forklifts can be in a work environment. According to data from the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), one out of every ten active forklifts will be involved in an accident involving injury each year.

Fortunately, you have rights when you’re injured at work. If you’ve been struck by a forklift or otherwise injured due to negligence by a forklift operator, you need an experienced work injury compensation lawyer. A forklift accident lawyer can help you protect your rights while you focus on your recovery.

You don’t have to go this alone. Let the Houston forklift accident lawyers at Grimes & Fertitta help you file a forklift injury lawsuit and recover the compensation you deserve.

Common types of forklift accidents

Forklift injury lawsuits can result from a number of different industrial accidents and construction accidents. When determining fault and building a winning case for a forklift injury lawsuit, it’s important to discover whether your accident was the result of operator negligence, employer negligence, or both.

Operator negligence occurs when the person operating the forklift chooses to violate safety regulations and best practices. These violations create conditions that ultimately can cause injuries such as a worker or bystander being struck by a forklift or having heavy cargo dropped on them. Even if a forklift operator is OSHA certified, they can still be held liable and sued for damages.

Examples of forklift operator negligence include:

• Failing/overbalanced loads
• Excessive speeds
• Inattentive driving or backing up
• Horseplay

In other instances, employer negligence is to blame for forklift accidents, placing both drivers and other nearby employees in danger. In addition to providing proper training and a safe, well-maintained workplace, Texas employers are obligated to select forklift operators who are capable and qualified to use a forklift with respect for the safety of all employees.

When owners and managers fail to supervise and maintain equipment properly, they violate OSHA policies and employee rights, sometimes resulting in catastrophic or fatal injuries.

Examples of forklift injuries caused by employer negligence include:

• Poor forklift maintenance
• Improper employee training
• OSHA violations
• Poor housekeeping
• Allowing unsafe workplace conditions